Bursting with lush, rich brown flavors, roasted onions are as versatile as baked potatoes but with fewer calories. Roasted onion can be easily prepared at home from medium unpeeled onions. The procedure involves Adjusting the oven rack to lowest position; heat to 425 degrees. Then Cut the onions in half; toss with oil and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. Place in such a way that the cut-side faces down, on a lipped cookie sheet. Roast until tender and cut surfaces are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Adjust seasonings; drizzle with balsamic vinegar and the favorite and Western cuisine favorite roasted onions are ready to be served. Make them a one-dish meal, a first course, a salad or side dish. All but the sharpest of onions can be mellowed into luscious sweetness by roasting them. A drizzle of flavorful, high-quality balsamic or cider vinegar before serving highlights that sweetness to perfection but is completely optional.

How to select

Ready to eat roasted onions are not available in the stores. The onions to be selected for roasting at home should be medium sized, fresh and with no signs of spoilage or wilting.Roasted opnion paste may howver be found at select stores in ready processed tera packs.

Culinary uses

" Serve the roasted onions simply -- sprinkled with good wine vinegar and a little olive oil as a side dish." For a simple supper -- a favorite comfort food -- try the warm onions with balsamic and a crumbling of a favorite blue cheese, mild fresh goat cheese, or whatever else appeals. Use a country bread with chewy whole grains and crust to sop up the juices" Roasted onions may be added with garlic and bean paste as dip with cripsy pita breads or tacos." Roasted onion addas a distinct rich flavour and taste to leek soups, onion-garlic soups, etc" Roasting softens and sweetens onions, turning them into a luscious accompaniment to roasts of all kinds." Roasted onions and honey make for an excellent accompaniment.

How to store

Store roasted onions for 2-3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Health benefits

" The roasted onions are mush lesser in calories and fat content as compared to other onion based accompaniments such as fried onion rings, etc and hence are a preferred choice.

" Onion and other Allium vegetables are characterized by their rich content of thiosulfinates, sulfides, sulfoxides, and other odoriferous sulfur compounds. The thiosulfinates in the roasted onions exhibit antimicrobial properties" Early American settlers used roasted wild onions to treat colds, coughs, and asthma, and to repel insects. In Chinese medicine, onions have been used to treat angina, coughs, bacterial infections, and breathing problems." The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of onions for the treatment of poor appetite and to prevent atherosclerosis.